Bed or couch.



w. J. GROTENHUIS.

` Pantea out. 25,1910.

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UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIcEc WILLIAM J'. GROTENI-IUIS, OF ELKHART, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR T0 SANITARY STEEL COUCH COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

BED 0R COUCI-I.

Application led April 2, 1909, Serial No. 487,413.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 25, 1910.

Renewed September 22, 1910. Serial No. 583,282.

To aZZ whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM J. GROTEN- Huls, a citizen of the United -States of America, and resident of Elkhart, Elkhart county, Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Beds or Couches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to couches and beds, and more particularly to those which are used either as couches or beds, such, for example, as the folding couches tha't are used as such during the day, but as beds at night, and especially to those employing` a metallic fabric as the supporting medium. As heretofore constructed, couches of this character1 have been provided with a set of springs below the metallic fabric, thus giving the structure the stability and firmness necessary for couch purposes. With this provision several persons could sit comfortably on the couch at the same time. On the other hand, however, it makes the same too hard and unyielding to be entirely satisfactory when used as abcd.

My invention contemplates, therefore, a bed or couch having a yielding supporting medium upon which the body of a person may rest comfortably for sleeping purposes, when the couch is used as a bed, and having a set of springs that can be readily lifted into engagement with the under side of the said fabric, or which may be otherwise regulated or controlled, to convert the bed into a couch of sufficient stability and firmness to permit a person to sit or recline thereon with ease and comfort, it being understood that the supporting medium, such as a metallic fabric, alone makes the most satisfactory bed, and that the fabric and springs together make the most satisfactory couch. Thus, broadly stated, I add or subtract the supporting strength and stability of one medium by movement thereof relative to the other, by mechanism for this purpose, such as levers, excavators or other devices which will determine the degree of operation or relative movement necessary to get the desired result.

In the accompanying drawings-Figure l is a longitudinal,section of a couch or bed embodying the principles of my invention'. Fig. 2 isa plan of the same, showing the sides broken away for convenience of illustration.` Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of an end portion of the couch or bed, showing the operation, in dotted lines, of the lever mechanism for raising and lowering the springs. Fig. 4 is a detail section on line P-4 in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the length of the couch. Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6 in Fig. 3.

As thus illustrated, the body A of the couch or bed, and the metallic fabric B stretched across the top thereof, maybe of any suitable construction. The folding sides C are hinged to the body, and may be supported in any suitable manner. As shown, said fabric is of the kind known as Slat-fabric, being composed of longitudinal slats Z) attached to the ends of the form or body by means of helical springs Z2 and tied together by cross links Z22, thus providing a flat andflexible and yielding support. This fabric makes a very comfortable and satisfactory bed. A couch, however, must have more stability and firmness than a bed, and must not sag and yield as does the said fabric when unsupported by springs. In order, therefore, that the said bed may also serve as a couch, a set of spiral springs D is provided below the fabric B, being mounted upon a frame cZ, as

shown. Three rods or wires'cZl are bolstered vto the end of the frame or body A, below the fabric, and are connected at their other ends by helical springs (Z2 to the said frame CZ. Another set of rods or springs (Z3 are connected by similar helical springs CZ* with the other end of the frame cl. A link Z5 has a pivotal connection ZG with the converging ends of the rods d3, said link being connected by a stay rod Z7 with a side memthe other end of the frame cZ. A link Z5 is pivoted at its outer end to the shorter end of a bell crank lever E, which latter is pivoted at e upon the under side of the end member a, of the frame or body A. This lever E has a stop e adapted to engage the link @Z5 when the springs are raised, thus locking itself in this position-that is to say, the lever E swings past the center, and thus the pull keepsthe stop e against the link (Z5, as shown. IVhen the llever E is swung into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, then the springs D are lowered out of contact with the fabric. Or the springs D can be regulated or controlled to simply vary their tension on the fabric.

then the springs D are up, as shown in I said mechanism having provisions for lim- Fig. l, the structure is then suitable for use as a couch, as the said springs lend stability and firmness to the fabric, making it possible for a person to sit or recline thereon with ease and comfort. Then the couch is to be used as a bed, and it is desired that the user shall have the full benefit of the flexibility and resilient qualities of the fabric B, then the springs D are lowered. Thus these springs are only used when they are needed. By means of the turn buckles F on the rods (Z3 the tension of the springs D on the fabric B can be varied at will to suit requirements.

It is an important consideration of my invent-ion that the raising and lowering` mechanism be of such character that it will determine the high and low positions of the springs below the fabric. The mechanism shown is a combination of levers and links, so arranged as to give an eccentric action, whereby the mechanism locks itself in position to hold the springs up against the under side of the fabric. Thus the said springs only have two positions, either clear up or clear down, as the case may be. There are no intermediate positions, and the user does not have to determine the desired position. The mechanism its-elf determines the position necessary to secure the desired result. Furthermore, a single act of the user is sufficient to either raise or lower the springs.

Vhat I claim as my invention is:

1. In a bed or couch, a metallic fabric, springs below the same, mechanism for raising and lowering the said springs, said mechanism having only two operative positions, to determine the high and low positions of the springs.

2. In a bed or couch, a metallic fabric, springs below said fabric, and a lever mechanism for raising and lowering said springs, said mechanism having only certain definite, operative positions to determine the positions of the springs, a device for manually operating said mechanism, and a frame upon which all of said elements are supported.

8. In a bed or couch, a metallic fabric, a set of spiral springs below the said fabric, mechanism for lifting said springs into contact with said fabric and lowering the same out of contact therewith, said mechanism having only two operative positions, a frame to which the fabric is fastened, and a manually manipulated element for controlling said mechanism, said element movably mounted on the frame.

Ll. In a bed or couch, a metallic fabric, a set of springs beneath said fabric, means operating on the lower ends of said springs for causing the latter to either support or not support the weight of a person on said fabric, mechanism for operating said means,

iting said means to determinate positions, a frame to which the fabric is fastened, and a manually manipulated element for controlling said mechanism, said element movably mounted on the frame.

5. `In a bed or couch, a support for the person, springs below the same, mechanism for controlling all of said springs and a single handle for operating said mechanism.

G. In a bed or couch, a yielding support, a set of springs below said support, means operative by a single act of adjustment to control the pressure of said springs on the under side of said support, a frame supporting said elements, and a handle by which said means are operated without disconnection of the springs from the frame.

7. In a bed or couch, a flexible support, a set of springs below said support, a lever at one end of same for manually controlling the pressure of the springs thereon, said lever having provisions for determining the degree of pressure necessary for the desired purpose, a support for the springs, and link connection between said support and lever.

8. In a bed or couch, a fiexible fabric support, a set of springs below said support, means comprising pivoted and fulcrumed elements for moving said springs up and down, for the purpose described, a frame supporting Said elements, and a handle by which said means are operated without disconnection of the springs from the frame.

9. In a bed or couch, a support, a set of springs below the support, and means including a lever for raising and lowering said springs, said lever adapted to lock itself in position to keep the springs pressed against the under side of said support.

l0. In a bed or couch, the combination of two supporting mediums, one above the other, means for combining the supporting strength and stability of the two mediums, by movement of one relative to the other, to superimpose one upon the other, and means for determining the position of the movable medium, the movable medium adapted to pass from high to low position, or vice versa, without disconnection of any portion thereof, which movable medium is without means for sustaining it in intermediate positions.

l1. In a bed or couch, two supporting mediums, one above the other, and means comprising pivoted and fulcrumed operating elements at the end of the bed or couch for withdrawing the supporting strength and stability of one medium by movement thereof relative to the other.

12. In a bed or couch, two supporting mediums, one above the other, and means comprising pivoted and fulcrumed operating elements at the end of the bed or couch for combining the supporting strength and stability of the two mediums, by movement of one relative to the other, the lower medium being springy or yielding in character, to cushion the upper medium, the movable medium adapted to pass from high to low position, or vice versa, without disconnection of any portion thereof, which movable medium is without means for sustaining it in intermediate positions.

13. In a bed or couch, a frame, two supporting mediums, one above the other, and means comprising an eccentric device mounted on the frame and connect-ed for controlling one medium by movement thereof relative to the other, to decrease the stability of the latter, the lower support being yielding in character, anda handle for op,- erating said eccentric device.

14. In a bed or couch, a frame, two supporting mediums, one above the other, and means comprising an eccentric device mounted on the frame and connected for combining the supporting strength and stability of the two mediums, by movement of one relative to the other, the lower support being provided with helical springs sustaining the weight thereof, and means for operating said eccentric device.

15. In a bed or couch, a frame, two supportingmediums, one 'above the other, and means comprising an eccentric device mounted on the frame and connected for withdrawing the supporting strength and stability of one medium, by movement thereof relative to theother, the lower support being provided with helical springs sustaining the weight thereof, and means on one end of the frame for operating said eccentric device.

16. In a bed or couch, two supporting mediums, one above t-he other, means comprising pivoted and fulcrumed elements for combining the supporting strength and stability of the two, by movement of one relative 'to the other, the lower support being yielding in character, and additional means for varying the pressure of one medium on the other.

17 In a bed or couch, two supporting mediums, one above the ot-her, means comprising an eccentric device operable about a vertical axis for withdrawing the supporting strength and stability of one medium, by movement thereof relative to the other, the lower sup ort being yielding in character, and adlditional means for varying the pressure of one medium on the other.

1S. In a bed or couch, two supporting mediums, one above the other, means comprising an eccentric device operable about a vertical axis for combining the supporting strength and stability of the two mediums, by movement of one relative to the other, the lower support being provided with helical springs sustaining the weight thereof, said springs .subject to the action of said eccening strength and stability of one medium,

by movement thereof relative to the other, the lower support being provided with helical springs at each end thereof, sustaining the weight thereof, and additional means for varying the tension of said springs and the pressure of one medium on the other.

20. A combinedcouch and bed comprising a supporting fabric, a unitary supporting member permanently disposed below said fabric, mechanism for bodily raising and lowering said member, without disconnection thereof, to vary the character of the support provided by said fabric, said mechanism having provisions for determining the desired position of said member, consisting of a. movable operating element, and means whereby said element is operative only in certain predetermined positions thereof.

21. A combined couch and bed comprising a supporting fabric, a set of coil springs vpermanently disposed below said fabric, and

connected together to form a unitary supporting member, lever mechanism for raising and lowering said member, without disconnection thereof, to vary the character of the support provided by said fabric, said mechanism having provisions for determining the position of said springs, consisting of a movable operating element, and means whereby said element is operative only in certain predetermined positions thereof.

22. In a convertible couch and bed, a frame and a iexible supportin fabric thereon, a stiffening means for the abric, located thereunder, and means for quickly raising and lowering said means into andout of action, for the purpose set forth, said means including devices for locking the stiffening means while in action, these locking devices including a movable element which is operative only in two positions thereof.

23. In a convertible couch and bed, a frame and a flexible supporting fabric thereon, a stiifening means for the fabric located thereunder, and means for quickly raising and lowering said means into and out of action, for the purpose set forth, said means including devices for locking the stiffening means while in action, these locking devices including a lever element pivoted on the frame. c

Signed by me at Chicago, Illinois, this 4th day of February, 1909.

VILLIAM J. GROTENI-IUIS. lVitnesses CLARENCE E. TAYLOR, E. H. CLEGG. 

